Urinary metabolic characterization with nephrotoxicity for residents under cadmium exposure

Cadmium is a well-known hazardous pollutant that mainly comes from dietary, tobacco and occupational exposure, posing threat to kidney. However, there is still a lack of systematic study on metabolic pathways and urinary biomarkers related to its nephrotoxicity under cadmium exposure for both females and males. In this study, a mass spectrometry-based metabolomics investigation of a cohort of 144 volunteers was conducted to explore sex-specific metabolic alteration and to screen biomarkers related to cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity. When the concentration of urinary cadmium increased, creatine pathway, amino acid metabolism especially the tryptophan metabolism, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and purine metabolism were primarily influenced regardless of the gender. Also, the most specific biomarkers linked with nephrotoxicity based on the statistical analysis were detected including creatine, creatinine, L-tryptophan, adenine and uric acid. The study outcome might provide information to reflect the body burden and help improve health policy for risk assessment.

Automated summary

Under cadmium exposure, regardless of gender, the metabolic pathways primarily affected include the creatine pathway, amino acid metabolism especially tryptophan metabolism, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and purine metabolism as the concentration of urinary cadmium increases. Specific biomarkers linked with nephrotoxicity such as creatine, creatinine, L-tryptophan, adenine, and uric acid were detected based on statistical analysis. The study outcome may provide valuable information for reflecting body burden and improving health policy for risk assessment.